#43 Partner spotlight: Khazanah Arts Residency
50 opportunities for 50 years
In 2017, in collaboration with Malaysia’s sovereign wealth fund Khazanah Nasional Berhad, Acme created a 12-week residency designed for emerging Malaysian artists which became part of the Khazanah Arts Residency Programme.
An initiative under the wider Khazanah Residency Programme, the annual arts residency is designed to develop and prepare Malaysian artists for the next growth phase in their professional careers. Typically, artists are nominated by galleries and residencies in Malaysia and subsequently selected by Khazanah Nasional Berhad and Acme.
Artists who have benefitted from this programme include: Haffendi Anuar, Izat Arif Saiful Bahri, Azam Aris, Winnie Cheng, Joshua Kane Gomes, Tomi Heri, Ajim Juxta, Zulkifli Lee, Mark Tan, and Choo Kuan Yeoh.
Commenting on the programme, Dato' Amirul Feisal Wan Zahir, Managing Director of Khazanah Nasional Berhad says:
“Khazanah Nasional Berhad (Khazanah) is proud to have partnered with Acme since 2017 in providing opportunities for emerging Malaysian artists to be exposed to the international art scene, and in turn, expand their experience, artworks, and connections globally. The partnership through Khazanah Arts Residency programme also provides our local artists the opportunity to experiment with new ideas, be more innovative and develop new art pieces. Khazanah has sponsored eight emerging artists for this residency since then, with many claiming that they have had “life-changing” experiences during their time in London.
Upon completion of their residency at Acme, these artists have returned to Malaysia and contributed towards nation-building. As a way of paying it forward, they’ve showcased their works in their own exhibitions, inspiring other local artists, in the process.
Khazanah’s continued support for this residency is also aligned with our focus of building capacities and vibrant communities under our strategic imperative of Advancing Malaysia. By developing and offering opportunities for new talents, preserving history, culture, arts and heritage, we are able to provide societal and economic values for the communities in advancing the country. We thank Acme in joining us in this endeavour and are excited for many more fruitful collaborations in the future."